Jeffrey MacDonald, a former doctor and army captain, was convicted in 1979 of murdering his pregnant wife Colette and two daughters in 1970, despite his claims of innocence and significant evidence against him. The crime scene was marked by extreme brutality, with wounds indicating a violent struggle, and a notable lack of serious injuries on MacDonald himself. Forensic evidence contradicted his alibis and painted a damning picture of his involvement, leading to his conviction for the murders.

2. CASE STUDY

3. INTRODUCTION
Jeffrey Robert MacDonald (born October 12, 1943) is an American former medical doctor and
United States Army captain who was convicted in August 1979 of murdering his pregnant wife
and two daughters in February 1970 while serving as an Army Special Forces physician.

4. Colette MacDonald was discovered sprawled on the
floor of the master bedroom. She lay on her back. She
had been repeatedly clubbed about her body, with both
her forearms later found to be broken, maybe in an
attempt of self defense. A bloodied and torn pajama top
was draped upon her chest, and a paring knife lay
beside her body.Beside her, Jeffrey MacDonald was
found lying face-down, alive but wounded, with his
head on Colette's chest and one arm around her neck.
MacDonald has always proclaimed his innocence of the
murders inspite of having strong physical evidence against
him.
1.

5. Five-year-old Kimberley was found in her bed, having been
repeatedly bludgeoned about the head and body and stabbed in
the neck with a knife repeatedly. She lay on her left side. Her skull
had been fractured from at least two blows to the right side of her
head, and one wound to her face. The wounds to Kimberley's head
were severe in nature to have caused bruising to her brain, coma,
and death soon after infliction.
Across the hallway, two-year-old Kristen was found in her own
bed, also lying on her left side, with a baby bottle close to her
mouth. She had been stabbed 33 times across the chest, neck,
hands, and back with a knife and 15 times with an ice pick. Two
knife wounds had penetrated her heart. The injuries to her hands
were likely defense wounds.
On the headboard of the MacDonalds' marital bed, the word "PIG"
was written in eight inch capital letters. The blood used to write
this word was later determined to belong to Colette.

6. The fact that MacDonald was left alive and with no serious injuries only adds
more mystery to an already complicated case.
From the beginning, MacDonald's comments have always been strong and
positive about himself. He sees himself as a victim, someone who had not only
lost his family that night, but also someone who had been unfairly accused by
the military and the federal government and his father-in-law.
There is an overwhelming amount of evidence that suggests and points to the
fact that no one but Jeffrey MacDonald was responsible for these murders.

7. 1.By mid-March, the CID had obtained the results of forensic testing of the blood, hair, and
fiber samples within 544 Castle Drive that contradicted MacDonald's accounts of his
movements and further convinced investigators of his guilt.
For example, Kimberley's blood was also found on his pajama top, even though MacDonald
had claimed he was not wearing this garment while in her room attempting resuscitation.
MacDonald's own blood was located in significant quantities in only two locations: in front
of the kitchen cabinet containing rubber gloves, and upon the right side of a hallway
bathroom sink.
2. Investigators also questioned why Colette's blood was found in Kristen's room, although
all three victims were found in separate rooms, suggesting they had been attacked
separately. Moreover, although blood evidence indicated Kimberley had been attacked as
she entered the master bedroom, investigators questioned why home intruders would
bother to carry her back to her bedroom to continue their attack.
FORENSIC AIDS

8. Most importantly , let they many people into
the crime scene, didn't supervise those people
properly, allowed potential evidence to be
moved before it was documented and did not
preserved the integrity of potential trace
evidence.
There was also a bloody footprint leading out
of Kristen's room. The blood was of Colette's
but the foot appeared to be of Jeffrey's.

11. FORENSIC
RECONSTRUCTION

12. The clinical psychology tests revealed an extraordinary
absence of anxiety, depression, and anger in MacDonald
with regard to the loss of his family, and that his report
concluded he was "able to muster massive denial or
repression" to such a degree that the "impact of the recent
events in his life has been blunted".
Furthermore, this extreme psychological response would
likely see an individual convey himself as "victimized" and
"perhaps, somewhat of a martyr".
In a final address to the jury, on August 29, 1979, Judge
Dupree informed the panel they had three choices to
choose from: To find MacDonald not guilty; to find him
guilty of first-degree murder; or guilty of second-degree
murder in each case.
CONCLUSION